by Roseanna White | Sep 25, 2009 | Books
During my first writers conference back in ’07, I was standing around waiting for class to start one day and struck up a conversation with a mother/daughter writing team in front of me–
Christina Berry and Sherry Ashcroft. Though I met a lot of people there, these ladies stuck in my mind. I was pregnant, and
Christina shared her pregnancy stories too, so maybe that’s why I remembered her face and name. Or maybe it’s because her joy in the Lord practically radiates from her.
For whatever reason, I’ve kept Christina in my htoughts and prayers over the years, so I was eager to help when she announced her debut novel, The Familiar Stranger, was coming out from Moody Press in September of 2009. Go, Christina! She was the second place winner with this story in the Genesis contest, a testament to the attention the contest can bring you. And when I started reading her book, I didn’t have to wonder why she did so well.
I didn’t get to start The Familiar Stranger until conference this year. I opened the first page, made a few observations. The first word? His. Chapter heading sort of thing to tell you whose point of view you’re in. Naturally, the other option is Hers. I loved this from the get-go. Then I read the first page and said something like, “Wooooowwwww.” She totally captured the male mindset, right down to the sarcasm. I could totally hear it, totally put myself into the mind of her hero. And as I turned the page . . .
My roommate came in. LOL. Stephanie looked at what I was reading and said, “Oo, I can’t wait to read that. Is it good?”
I often hate it when people ask that question when I’ve been reading for all of thirty seconds, but this time I didn’t mind at all. “The first page is awesome!” I told her.
It wasn’t until later that night that I got to read more, but my exclamation after the first chapter was pretty amazed too. “Oh my gosh!” I announced to Stephanie. “I think this guy’s going to try to fake his own death!”
Kept reading . . . got to the stuff on the back cover. Craig (hero) is in a debilitating car accident that leaves him seriously injured and with retrograde amnesia. His wife, who has been wondering if their marriage is in serious danger, rushes to his side and prays that somehow this will draw them closer. And it does–except for all those unanswered questions. Obviously there are lies between them. But can they overcome them?
You don’t think I’m going to tell you, do you? Ha! No, you’re just going to have to open up this awesome book yourself and see. I promise you won’t regret it. Christina is a talented writer, and she confesses that she pulled a lot of the feeling from her own life–a marriage on the rocks that got better only to end without warning.
Yet still Christina radiates the Joy of the Lord, and it’s so clear from a minute of talking to her that this is one woman excited about what God might have in store for her. Her tagline, Live Transparently–Forgive Extravagently sums it up rather well, doesn’t it? I was so glad to get to talk to her and hug her again in Denver, and it’s my prayer that this book takes off and establishes a reputation she totally deserves as a writer and a person.
by Roseanna White | Sep 24, 2009 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
Yesterday a couple things happened. Though I spent my free-time de-adverbing
Yesterday’s Tides so that it can go out to the editors who requested it today (I’m addicted to adverbs, I swear), I spent the rest of my day with family.
For starters, my awesome and gorgeous cousin Andrea came to visit in the morning. We were always close as kids, though we saw each other only twice a year or so, but it’s been approximately forever since we’ve seen each other. So it was very cool to hug her again, and she now has a daughter who’s two, so the kids could all play together. Or play in the same room anyway, lol.
I also received the first solid proof that Rowyn, a.k.a. Mr. Independence, did indeed miss me while I was gone. He didn’t seem fazed when I left him at my mom’s for an hour on Tuesday to take Xoe to Story Time, and he hasn’t been extra-clingy or anything since I got back. But yesterday afternoon I needed to run to the market and he was still napping. So David stayed home with him, and I took Xoe with me. When we got home, he was up and looked thrilled to see me walk through the door. He sat on my lap for, like, an hour. Followed me everywhere I went. Kept giving me hugs and kisses.
Not. Normal. Wonderful, but not normal. And it occurred to me that the last time he woke up and Mama wasn’t here, I’d been gone for days. So it was great to see his gladness that this was NOT the case this time.
And for the record, after about a millennium of editing, I did indeed get the adverbs cut down in my manuscript, and it should be winging its way across email to various editors’ inboxes today. So anyone with a prayer to spare, feel free to apply it to that! And now, let the waiting begin . . .
by Roseanna White | Sep 23, 2009 | Remember When Wednesdays
In Stray Drop, the house plays a pretty critical role in the story, it being where most of the action takes place. Adventurous, I know, but my heroine’s a house slave, so . . . you know. I’ve spent a lot of time studying houses of the day. Thank you to all those diligent archeologists out there who have uncovered some for me!
What did I learn? That in Israel in Jesus’ day, much of the household was run on the roof. The rooftop was usually on multiple levels, each section of the house being a varying height, and it’s where people did the weaving, the cooking, the everything. For some reason, I hadn’t envisioned this. I had assumed there would be something like a porch or portico, something that would provide shade. But apparently they went outside for the light, so . . . this is why I shouldn’t assume. The actual kitchen was very small, and most of the cooking was done out there where the heat wouldn’t build up. Makes sense, huh?
And of course, it’s totally different in Rome. I doubled my work by moving the plot of Stray Drop to Rome for the second half of the book. Because while some things are the same, others are definitely NOT. Their house is built around the courtyard, with a back garden. And the interior is far different, too, each room having one purpose only.
Speaking of one purpose, my son seems to think his right now ought to be running into his sister’s room and waking her up, so I had better get off the computer. Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!
(for a sketch of this, go to this site and scroll down to the housing section)
by Roseanna White | Sep 22, 2009 | What We're Reading
On the way to Denver I had many, many hours with nothing to do but read. So I logged some serious book-time and was delighted to finish Golden’s A Prisoner of Versailles. Especially because I got to give her a hug the next morning! So though I’ve posted two things on it before, this will be my official review, which will also appear on the Christian Review of Books website in the next week or so.
A Prisoner of Versailles
By Golden Keyes Parsons
Review by Roseanna White
In her quest to keep her family safe in their Huguenot faith, Madeleine has a formidable foe: King Louis XIV. The Sun King is determined to bring her back to his side, and when he tears her from her family yet again, she must learn how–and when–to fight. In a world where even love could destroy her, how can her God save her?
Though her husband miraculously escaped the galleys in In the Shadow of the Sun King, Parson’s first book in the From Darkness to Light trilogy, the horrors have taken their toll. After clinging desperately to life as long as he could, he passes away in the opening of the book, leaving Madeleine with one final wish: take the family and flee to the New World. She doesn’t know how to achieve this task–or if she has the heart to leave Europe–but she knows she must try.
Proving his far-stretching power, King Louis finds her even in Switzerland and has her and her eldest son brought back to Versailles. Held there as a pampered prisoner, Madeleine’s faith faces its ultimate test. What price will she pay to protect her family? And what price must Pierre, the man who sacrificed so much to help them, pay for his role?
A Prisoner of Versailles is a fabulous continuation of the Darkness to Light saga, and I loved it even more than the first book. I’m a sucker for romance, so I really appreciated that this one had more of a love story. And I hear that the third book will have even more romance, so I’m really looking forward to that!
Prisoner was packed with adventure, intrigue, and a faith thread to touch your deepest heart. Most of us have never faced an authority that forbids us to worship as our heart tells us to, but Parsons brings to life the cry of the heart that the Huguenots must have felt. This a rich tapestry of a book, one that will paint a vivid picture of the past and bury itself into your heart. I definitely recommend A Prisoner of Versailles–it will capture you, and you’ll be happy to be caught.
by Roseanna White | Sep 21, 2009 | Misc.
I’m going to ease back into my real life today, so my blog will be pretty informal. (As opposed to how strict I usually am, right? Hardy har har.)
Had a great time in Denver. I think by far the best part was getting to spend face time with my critique group. I had some very encouraging editor meetings, too. The best would be the one where I got a very nice proposal request, then she asked if I had a writing sample. So I pulled out the manuscript I’d just pitched her (see, this is why I always bring a proposal with me!) and she gushed over the writing. Her request turned into a “Yes, I definitely want to read this. Send this right away.” Woo hoo!
So now I’m back home and thinking, “Do I really have to do laundry today? Really? I’m thinking it can wait until tomorrow. 😉 I’ve got a cousin in town I hope to connect with over the next couple of days, and over a thousand emails that have built up. Wanna take bets on how many are real?
For all you ACFWers at the conference, I enjoyed seeing you!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. Having successfully launched two homeschool grads, she now spends her time writing fiction, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years, as well as a fantasy series and contemporary mysteries and romances. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.